Holden plans high-tech upgrade

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The humble Commodore may soon get an advanced collision-avoidance system or headlights that peer around corners as part of a push to ensure Holden adopts world-class technology sooner.

Holden chairman and managing director Denny Mooney says Commodores of the future will borrow advanced electronic features that may be too expensive to develop locally from other General Motors brands such as Cadillac.

"Cadillac will always be leading edge for GM. But we (Holden) want to be fast followers on this stuff," Mr Mooney said at the launch of the latest VZ Commodore.

The new VZ is available with an electronic stability system, which uses sensors to help detect and correct a slide. Despite being commonplace on imported and luxury vehicles, such systems have been slow to arrive on locally produced vehicles.

General Motors' group vice-president of advanced vehicle development, Mark Hogan, said recently the Commodore would get advanced electronic systems, some of which could even be downloaded using advanced telematics systems linked to satellites.